Press Releases


September 8, 2011
JAMSTEC

Public Open day for JAMSTEC Yokosuka HQ

The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) will open its facility at Yokosuka Headquarters to the public on Saturday October 1st, 2011. The open house is designed to enhance public understanding and awareness of ocean research activities and technology development undertaken by JAMSTEC.

1.Date and time : Saturday, October 1st, 2011, 9:30~16:00
(last admission: 15:30)
2.Venue : JAMSTEC Headquarters in Yokosuka
2-15, Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka
(Free shuttle bus services available from Keihin-kyuko Oppama Station)
3. Admission : Free
4. Open house features : See Appendix

Appendix

Yokosuka HQ Open House Features

(Event and lecture topics are subject to change)

(1)

Special features

  • 40th-year anniversary of JAMSTEC
    - Photographs and documents featuring the 40-year history of JAMSTEC.
    - Scientific and technological achievements are also on display, including those by the Deep-sea Drilling Vessel Chikyu, and the super computer “Earth Simulator.”
  • Report on the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11
    - Photographs from the earthquake
    - Reports from surveys in the earthquake source area
· Multi-channel seismic profiling of the seafloor by R/V Kairei
· Geological and biological changes revealed by the manned research submersible Shinkai 6500
· Oceanographic surveys off the coast of Fukushima
(2)

Research facilities and guided Laboratory tours

  • Let's learn about the Earth's environment
    - Oceanographic observation instruments and photographs from research expeditions. Science quizzes are also available
  • Special guided tours of JAMSTEC's laboratory facilities
1. Hands-on science experiments tour for school children and above
(On-site registration)
2. Geobiology laboratory tour
- The tour includes a brief explanation on laboratory equipment and is best suitable for junior high school students and above.
3. Laboratory for High precision analysis
- Mass spectrometry laboratory for dating rock and sediment samples
(3)

Special lectures

  • “Submarine resources research at JAMSTEC”
    Eiichi Kikawa (Submarine Resources Research Project)
  • “Monitoring the seismogenic zone ~ Dense Ocean-floor Network for Earthquakes and Tsunamis(DONET)~ ”
    Katsuyoshi Kawaguchi (Earthquake and Tsunami Research Project for Disaster Prevention)
(4)

Science Café

  • “Development of oceanographic buoys in the Antarctic Ocean”
    Yutaka Ota (Marine Technology Center)
  • “Visualizing a complicated food web”
    Yoshito Chikaraishi (Research Institute for Global Change)
(5)

Cruise aboard the Research Vessel KAIYO (190 passengers each by lot)

- On-site registration for the draw :9:30~12:00
(The vessel is open to the public during the above hours.)
- Cruise time: 14:00~15:00

*The cruise might be cancelled due to bad weather.

*Due to delays in research schedule caused by the typhoon Roke, the cruise is not going to take place.

(6)

Entry into the cockpit of the retired manned research submersible SHINKAI 2000 (limited to 72 people)

- Every hour from 10:00 to 15:00, 12 people each by a draw.
On-site registration for the draw is required.

(7)

Kids park (Hands-on activities for children)
(e.g. story telling, science experiments, and paper crafting)

(8)

Research equipment and findings

  • Unmanned deep-sea research vehicles
  • Ocean bottom seismograph(OBS), buoys and marine observation systems
  • Equipment for experiments and analysis(e.g. hyperbaric chamber)
  • Specimens of deep-sea creatures
  • Achievements from seismic and/or oceanographic research
(9)

Other highlights include:

  • Radio-control operation of an underwater robot
  • Plastic bottle crafting(e.g. submersible)
  • Art of blanket folding
  • Rope work
  • Geology experiment: let's form an “accretionary wedge” with sand.
  • The accretionary wedge is an accumulation of sediment formed at the subduction zone. It is one of the primary sources of large earthquakes.
  • JAMSTEC web contents
  • Quizzes and stamp rally
  • Curry buffet (by Yokosuka Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
  • Mini cruise by a Yokosuka Naval Port Cruise operator(paid attraction)
  *The above events are supported by:
Yokosuka City; Oppama-Administration Center; Oppama Tourism Association; Yokosuka Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Tryangle Ltd.; Nissan Motor Company; Taura Post Office; Nippon Marine Enterprises; Marine Works Japan; Global Ocean Development; Mantle Quest Japan Company; Tokyo Sea Life Park; Yokohama Hakkeijima Seaparadise; Keikyu Aburatsubo Marine Park; Kanagawa Prefectural Marine Science High School; Enoshima Aquarium; Hiratsuka City Museum; Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba; and Yokosuka City Museum

Contacts:

Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
(For Open house)
Kyohiko Mitsuzawa, Manager
Public Relations Division
Advanced Research and Technology Promotion Department
(For publication)
Hikaru Okutsu, e-mail: press@jamstec.go.jp
Senior Administrative Specialist, Planning Department Press Office